Today’s newspapers and internet sites seem to highlight some new catastrophe almost every day. Whether it is a drought in the U.S., flooding caused by a typhoon in the Philippines, or an earthquake that destroys most of an island nation, emergency situations are all around us. Now, more than ever, families need to take steps to be ready in case one of these catastrophic events comes to call.

September is National Preparedness Month and organizations like FEMA and the Red Cross will be working with communities and families to raise awareness about the need for emergency preparedness and to offer advice and information on what kind of preparations need to be made. The primary goal of National Preparedness Month is to get people to understand the importance of preparing before disaster strikes. To help increase awareness, here are 4 things every household should do in order to be ready and be able to respond.

1. Fire Evacuation Plan

In 2010, statistics show there were more than 360,000 house fires in the U.S. and 2,640 people lost their lives as a result. Unlike some other natural disasters that only impact certain areas, house fires can happen to anyone. Make sure your family has a fire evacuation plan that includes at least two ways out of every room.

2. Emergency Contact Information

One of the scariest things family members encounter when there is a crisis is not being able to find loved ones. Establishing an emergency communication plan that includes meeting places, important contact numbers, and how to use an out of town relay to locate and communicate with each other is your best defense.

3. Evacuation Plan

If the time ever comes that it is no longer safe to remain in your home, you won’t likely have time to formulate the best evacuation plan either. In order to be ready if that order ever comes, you need to know where the closest shelter is in your town as well as where emergency shelters can be found in neighboring towns or cities. You need to have an emergency kit that contains everything your family will need for 72 hours already packed and ready to go with you in the car.

4. Sheltering in Place

Just like there are times when you must leave your home, there are times when leaving is the last thing you want to do. Every family should have a plan for remaining in their home for several weeks without access to outside resources like the grocery store or essential services like electricity. By stocking enough food, water, medicine, and other critical supplies ahead of time, you can feel confident that if there is a reason not to go out, you won’t have to just to survive.

You don’t need to stockpile several years of food, learn to spin your own wool thread, or spend thousands of dollars on tools and equipment it is unlikely you will ever use in order to be prepared. It only takes a little time, a little effort, and a trip or two to the grocery store to make sure your family is ready to weather whatever storms come your way.